Cupcakes at the Park...for Georgie!

Instead of Birthday parties this year we did something a little more simple.  The kids picked out a cake or cupcakes to share with a few friends at the park.  Georgies park day was a rainy one so only our most devoted friends came;)  Thanks Bahr's, Alley's, Lilly's and Devin!  Sunny weather kicked in right about the time our party began...lucky Georgie!

I was a little bit excited when Georgie picked out the Garden Party cupcakes from THIS book.  They were adorably fun to make!

Isn't this the sweetest!!  

While all of his friends played at the park Isaac remained aware that his time with Gaga, Papa and Uncle Bryant was fleeting.  He stayed close by them the entire time.  I know I have a VERY sweet boy on my hands but I am reminded just how tender he really is when my parents come into town and actually Uncle Bryant too.  These three folks bring out the tenderest most thoughtful parts of him!  Nothin' better than a cupcake with Papa!

This takes a close second on the sweetness meter!  

Ashton and Kade...the two little people that came to celebrate G.

Georgie as Queen for a day and Snow White...her two gifts from us at the party!

Happy Birthday Beba G!!  We LOVE YOU!!

My First Dance Recital

On May 15th I danced in my first recital!  I was so excited to wear my costume, so poofy, pink and pretty.  It has roses on it!  And Gaga and Papa came to see me!  Even my uncle Bryant came and took my pictures!  I love my teacher, Mrs. Gabrielle.  Here's what I did on May 15th:

Hi Mom!!  I'm standing on my X!!

...staring at my X!!

spinny, spin, spin!

 

I obeyed my teacher really well and smiled (my nervous smile) the whole time!

"A kiss to build a dream on!"

Every Prima Donna gets Roses.  Aren't they beautiful?  

But I was kind of a sour puss for the encore/bow!  Good thing I danced so pretty!!  I can't wait for next year!

Here and Now

Do you want to see what's going on at our house tonight?

This:

& this:

& this:

oh, & this too:

We're trying not to remember that "this" is going away from us.  That we'll be losing "this" in just a few short days.  And we keep asking ourselves what we are supposed to do when such a huge, loved part of our life has to move away?  And we just don't know... so, we're getting loves from our favorite Bahr friends tonight, trying to soak up as much of them as we can before they leave us for San Antonio.  This is our here and now, and we're enjoying it!

xoxo....

Georgie turns 4

 Georgie turns 4

According to Georgie, turning 4 is a rite of passage marking total independence.  I was met with gentle reminders of this fact the entire 12th of May.  "I can brush my hair by myself...Mom, you stay out here, I can do this by myself now...Is this shirt for 4 year olds?...Are 4 year olds in my Dance Class?...Mom, I can't go to that class anymore, it's not for 4 year olds...4 year olds can cut their own pancakes.."etc.  These were real discussions yesterday, no lie.  Even her smile seemed more in control, and self assured.  Yesterday evening, as she struggled with the button on her pajamas for the first time, finally accomplishing her goal, I hugged her tightly and gave her my "proud" smile.  "Wow,"  I said, "you must be 4!"  "Well, I think I'm almost 4 and a 1/2!" she replied, sheepishly.  Four and 1/2 has been the subject of today's discussion.  Four was working out so well for her that she felt deserving of a promotion!

Her day yesterday was spent in as much celebration as I had energy for.  We started with a breakfast of blueberry pancakes, sausage and grapefruit in bed.  Isaac got up early to help prepare it and sing to her.  He got really into this tradition this year.  

Georgie opened a couple of presents, including a new dress to wear for her birthday, took Isaac to school and then we took some pretty pictures of her out in the yard. 

For lunch she and I went out to a cute little girly restaurant called Grapevine Cafe.  After this sophisticated lunch, with her climbing under the table and lifting up my skirts the entire time, we headed off to her dance recital practice.

Her friends sang her Happy Birthday while she giggled.  

We watched movies all day in the car (a real treat), went to a friend's house for cake, and she buried her face with her hands while we sang this time.  We then came home for her dinner of choice.  She wanted Swedish Meatballs, Noodles, Broccoli and fruit.  She didn't have to help set the table or clean up her room.   Isaac and I filled in the gaps and she felt quite pampered!  She opened a few more gifts, the rest of which will be opened tomorrow at her play date with cupcakes at the park.  We're not doing birthday parties this year.  

As your mother, Georgie, you might guess that I am in awe that 4 years have passed, that your childhood seems so fleeting, that today I am remembering your toddler years vividly...yadah, yadah, yadah.   I won't deny it.  But it wasn't a sad day for me.  You were having way too much fun for me not to completely enjoy what you are right now!!  At dinner last night I listed my favorite thing about you as being your fun, quirky personality.  You're always surprising us with your confidence, independence and your take-charge personality.  You love playing and being anything that makes you feel big.  The most ridiculous things come out of your mouth and in your actions to manifest your "big-ness", which only sometimes includes being bossy.  So far you've found that balance and we wouldn't list bossy as one of your defining features.  Your Dad's favorite thing about you is your resilience.  You seem to be somewhat level headed and unemotional.  Your feelings are rarely hurt and if they are, it's only moments before you are on about your business.  And Isaac loves that you play with him.  You two are truly the best of friends.  Happy Birthday, baby G.  We love you!

Eating My Words...

Remember when I was uninspired??  Well, THIS:

 inspires me!!  

When I saw this photo I HAD to find a place to save it for future reference.   I dream of prolific, beautiful, creative gardens!

"To dig one's own spade into one's own earth! Has life anything better to offer than this?"-- Beverley Nichols

Here my little gardening buddy and I are at work on the beginnings of this year's Garden.  I finished the tomato planting yesterday but saved our exciting experimental seeds for a day when Georgie was home with me.  I believe I have a budding horticulturist on my hands.  She loves it!

Building mounds for our first watermelon plants

Crimson Sweet...we're told this variety grows well here.

Pushing them in about 1/2" deep
We planted pumpkins, corn and onions for the first time as well.   We'll see how it goes!!

If you've ever debated gardening but are afraid of failure, here's

another quote just for you.  It became my gardening philosophy last year when after quite a few failures I began to wonder why I do this every year.  Because I'm addicted, I love getting dirty, it feels romantic to me and because:

"There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments." 

-- Janet Kilburn Phillips

Uninspired

While I used to be a regular blogger, lately I'm having a hard time feeling at all inspired.  Its too much work to lug out the camera, in the evenings I would rather crawl into bed as soon as the dishes are finished, I don't feel inspired by almost anything...even my children (did I just admit that out loud) and blogging seems to be at the very bottom of my ever growing check list.  Meanwhile my children's childhood is passing me by undocumented and the guilt sets in when I remember that there IS an alternative.  So here I am...uninspired and up past my desired bed time doing what guilt is forcing me to do.   And I'm trying so very hard to do it with a smile.  Man, I love being pregnant.  I wish I could stay like this forever!!  Count me in for having 12 more!!!  BLAHHH!

Today we went to the air show.  Our first ever and a big deal for an Air Force family.  Isaac really enjoyed scoping out the inside of an F15 and a B52 bomber.  And when our ears were plugged we LOVED watching the Thunderbirds.  It felt like we were in the presence of Rock Stars.  

Georgie enjoyed herself, relatively, but kept making a bed for herself in the middle of a runway, under a wing or something while Isaac and I stood in line.  I was kind of liking her idea but without Joey around, I had to "be in charge" of our place in line:(  

Here is the current scene in our bedroom tonight.  Joey left for San Antonio today so there will be sleepovers in my room every night!!  Or at least until the midnight awakenings and kicking catches up to me.  Just watching them, I'm beginning to get inspired...sleep, sleep, sleep.  Sweet dreams everyone!

xoxo

Ash

Catch UP!!

It's time to play catch-up!!  Let the games begin...

In February, for Ga Ga's birthday, the kids and I met up with the my Mom and Dad in Dallas.  We stayed in a hotel, ate a birthday dinner at Macaroni's, went to the Aquarium as well as heritage park, where you see us here on the front porch of a 100 + year old restored home.  We had a great time just being together.

You should know that this is mostly what we've been up to lately...adding a room onto our house.  But this is a topic for a whole other day.  But I won't mention it here without giving infinite amounts of thanks to Pop Pop (Joey's Dad) for all his hard work on our behalf.  We're LOVING the extra space!

My great friend Zeffy came for a visit over Spring Break in March.  It was so great to see her.  The kids got along marvelously after almost 2 years of being a part.

We had a GREAT time!  Here's Isaac with Olivia!

After Zeffy left us we drove down to Dallas to meet up with our friend Abby, her little sister Olivia and her parents Mary and Ben.  It was, once again, great to catch up with old friends.  Becky and Trevor Hunt and kids joined us too.  But I'm horrible with a camera so I don't have very many shots.  

We went to Six Flags for one whole day, stayed up way too late at night talking and visited the Stock Yards in Fort Worth.  Mary and I squeezed in some shopping as well...you better bet we didn't skip out on that opportunity!

At Six Flags, the guys karaokied {sp??} your body is a wonderland for us ladies.  We were in stitches watching them make total fools of themselves.  They got really into it and it was hilarious!!

Isaac rode his first BIG roller coaster.  He climbed aboard bravely with Daddy to "test drive" it before Georgie and I went on together.  When the end came he had a grin on his face but advised Georgie of it's begin too scary!!  He didn't recommend it!  But he was a good sport and proud of himself for trying it.  

I had to include the photo of naked jumping on the hotel bed!  woo-hoo!!

Happy Easter!  Here Isaac is with his friend Ben Foster at the base Easter egg hunt.

Georgie and her boys!

Georgie can pump herself in a swing now!!  And she's very proud!

Our favorite Easter gift ever??  Klutz' face painting book.  I would highly recommend it!

Georgie was hilarious with her snow queen persona.  She kept fanning her arms out and gently flicking her wrists in slow motion as she pranced about the house.  She felt so absolutely beautiful!

For Joey's birthday we invited over some friends for a simple taco salad and key lime cheesecake.  Here are a few of our smaller guests, who, by the way, LOVE Joey;)

I'm not sure if this was the end of one of our sleepovers but here I am reading the Bahr kids a story, right before they have to go home one afternoon.  We've had quite a few sleepovers this spring and it has been so much fun!!

Isaac has been scaling up on his chores lately!!  Here he is with the vacuum, wearing a smile!  What a great attitude!

A bad picture because only our zoom lens works right now, this is the twin size bed that I finally finished for the kids.  I'm really happy with how it turned out!  With strict adherence to the "no jumping on the bed" rule, I hope it will last long enough to be an heirloom!  

Okay...now I can begin life as a regular blogger again!  Gee, I've missed it!